Turkey report stays on EU agenda

The MEP at the centre of a row over Turkish EU has expressed his pleasure that his report will be voted on in European parliament next week.

Socialist MEPs had attempted to head off a controversial parliament report by Camiel Eurlings that criticizes Turkey for inaction in implementing reforms.

“I am happy that the report will be discussed as scheduled next week,” the centre-right Dutch deputy told this website.

“It is important that the report is voted on in parliament before the commission’s report is published on November 8. I am pleased it will be discussed in Strasbourg in the presence of commissioner Olli Rehn.”

Socialist MEPs said the Eurlings report is “unbalanced and biased” and attempted to use a Thursday meeting of political group and committee leaders to press for the delay.

Concern among centre-left MEPs - the parliament’s second biggest bloc – focuses on Eurlings’ demands that Ankara must recognise the Armenian genocide as a precondition for EU entry.

But despite their fears, the Eurlings report is now formally on the agenda at next week’s Strasbourg plenary.

Heated discussion is expected during debate on Tuesday - ahead of a Wednesday vote on the report.

• Previous article
• Next article